as in certainties
one that is certain to succeed
since he was trying his first case, the assistant district attorney was assigned a burglary case that was a slam dunk
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Recent Examples of slam dunks
Ezra Ausar led the Trojans with 21 points, including crucial late slam dunks.
—
Sean Campbell, Los Angeles Times, 1 Feb. 2026
The Timberwolves began to sling 3-pointers and slam dunks, but the Bulls took those punches on the chin, holding off the onslaught by forcing second-chance points and drawing fouls.
—Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 23 Jan. 2026
The six-time NBA All-Star and 2018 Sam Dunk Contest champion Mitchell also got up for some nasty slam dunks, inspired by his partner.
—Lars Brandle, Billboard, 26 Dec. 2025
From slam dunks to signature scents, Shaquille O’Neal’s latest venture proves fragrance can be powerful, personal, and affordable.
—Kimberly Wilson, Essence, 5 Sep. 2025
Sean Campbell, Los Angeles Times, 1 Feb. 2026
The Timberwolves began to sling 3-pointers and slam dunks, but the Bulls took those punches on the chin, holding off the onslaught by forcing second-chance points and drawing fouls.
—Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 23 Jan. 2026
The six-time NBA All-Star and 2018 Sam Dunk Contest champion Mitchell also got up for some nasty slam dunks, inspired by his partner.
—Lars Brandle, Billboard, 26 Dec. 2025
From slam dunks to signature scents, Shaquille O’Neal’s latest venture proves fragrance can be powerful, personal, and affordable.
—Kimberly Wilson, Essence, 5 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for slam dunks
Noun
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Perhaps one of those starting pitching prospects — Lagrange has a fitting profile — gets an opportunity in a bullpen that is short on sure things.—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
8 Feb. 2026
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Looking back through the records, Warr found that the majority of medalists hadn’t looked like sure things at age 12, even as every lever in the system was tuned to favor those who did.—
Rachel Barr,
Big Think,
29 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Alarms for doors and windows, smart locks or wearables that detect movement are other options that boost safety and can connect to the caregiver's smartphones.—
Kathleen Wong,
USA Today,
12 Feb. 2026
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Three seem like locks (if healthy) – Tanner Scott, Alex Vesia and Blake Treinen.—
Bill Plunkett,
Oc Register,
11 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Slam dunks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/slam%20dunks. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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